Francis glanced to his side once, then again. He sighed as he turned a corner as sharply as possible causing a loud thudding sound as Alfred's head collided with the car window.
"Jesus, Francis, be more careful," Alfred muttered, his closed eyes pinching into a glare.
"I am simply driving you to work since you seem completely unable to remain conscious."
"When you said the captain wanted me at the crack of dawn, I didn't think you meant it literally."
"You didn't think? You say that as if you can think to begin with!" Francis teased.
"You're just jealous," Alfred mumbled.
"Hmm?"
"You're jealous that I am reconnecting with someone from the old gang and having a good time and not-"
"Wait a second? Who 'ave you reconnected with from old group?"
"Oh come on, Francis, stop being a jerk. I've told you it's Arthur," Alfred replied, still with muddled words.
"Is 'e that awkward little boy that you would bring to meetings? The one that would sit in the back with his arms crossed and his cheeks puffed out?"
"Yeah..."
"The same one Ivan and I would mock and Yao hated with a burning passion? My God, I remember the little twit now!"
"Wait, you honestly forgot him? 'Cause he remembers you, ya know."
"I didn't forget, I just didn't think that was the same boy! His hair was so unruly when he was younger and he was awkward, but that man at the party was-"
"Yeah, he aged rather nicely..."
"I had no idea that you two were that close though, I thought you just pitied him and brought him to our group."
Alfred was actually starting to grow irritated, hoping he could just fall back asleep.
"Nope, we were best friends. He was a bitch at times, I'll tell ya that," Alfred said, peeking through a partially opened eye. He groaned at the sight of the police station nearing him.
"It is as if the Fates wanted the whole gang to get back together so that we could steal pies and play tag again," Francis said with excitement in a voice Alfred dared to call 'dreamy'.
"Mmm, so why'd Ludwig want us down here?" Alfred asked while forcing himself to fully awake.
"While you were off on your escapade of love and adventure, someone you may either be ecstatic to see, or end up killing showed up. He asked for you personally, although he and I spoke for quite a while. Ludwig told him you weren't going to be 'skimping out' on work today so he could come visit you tomorrow morning."
Francis parked the car in front of the station and both men climbed out, Alfred's movements entirely more relented.
"Remind me to thank the captain, Franny," Alfred said, trying to force a smile.
"Don't get angry at me, you know damn well how busy we 'ave been-"
"Exactly! So why the hell am I not permitted a break?" Alfred opened the door and walked in quickly, earning a frown from his companion.
"You could not even hold the door open?" Francis shouted, annoyance plaguing the words. He grinned anyway in an attempt to keep his temper from the American. Alfred exhaled loudly, ran a hand through his hair, and turned around to face the other man.
"I am sorry, Francis. This case, if you can even call it that, is getting to me. It just seems never ending... And it's... It's irritatin' me"
Francis smiled softly and more genuinely before gently setting his hand on the younger's shoulder.
"This will be finished one day, my dear friend," he said softly as he softly squeezed.
"Jones!"
The two men glanced over to see Ludwig walking hastily down the hall of the bustling station. Francis outstretched his arms and walked up to all too obviously annoyed German.
"Oh Captain Beilshmidt! How are you-"
Ludwig pushed through Francis's arm with a look of disgust as the Frenchman just gave a smirk resembling a kid's after pulling a prank.
"Ah, morning Ludwig," Alfred said with a tired smirk.
"You were supposed to be here eight minutes ago, Alfred," he said in his gruff voice.
"Hey, don't blame me, Francis drove this time."
Ludwig looked over his shoulder to the aforementioned man and was given a smirk and a wave. The captain made a face of disgust before walking back in the direction he came.
"Just come on."
After following the angered German to one of the farther rooms in the station, Alfred wanted desperately to just walk out of the building. For the same Alfred wanted to leave, Francis walked into the room prepared to engage in an embrace again, hopefully with success.
"Ivan! Good to see you again," he said, Alfred cringing at Francis's words. After Francis finished the embrace, he gestured to the stiff and frowning Alfred standing in the doorway.
"Hello there, old friend," Ivan said, his violet eyes shimmering a little as he smiled brightly. Alfred inhaled loudly and then laughed. Ivan gave a confused look and smile, laughing once through his nose.
"So what did you get arrested for this time? Hell, I wouldn't ever think I'd see ya in Utah!"
"Ah, I am not under arre-"
"Alfred, have some manners," Francis hissed. Ludwig gave off a low humming and folded his arms.
"Mister Braginsky isn't under arrest, he just wanted to visit you and Francis," the captain explained. Alfred's expression dropped.
"Then why didn't you just come visit our rent?"
Ivan's smile widened so that it looked like that of an excited child. "This is much more exciting, don't you agree?"
"Aw c'mon, Ivan, lemme guess, you changed documents to get one of your buddies out of here, didn't ya"
"Ugh," moaned Francis as he placed his palm on his forehead. Ludwig sighed in embarassment soon after. Ivan just chuckled.
"It is funny how you have mock me, Alfred," he said, his Russian accent becoming more obvious. "But I see us as friends despite that."
Alfred's mouth made a straight, tight line. "So why're you in Utah?"
"Well, after writing you from Atlanta, I was convinced to start... new? So what better place to go then a city where I have friends? My siblings are here too; you should come visit us."
"What are you doing here for money?"
"Ah yes, you forgot to tell me that, my friend," Francis joined in. Ivan smiled at both of them.
"You will have to come to my home to see for yourself one day, I would love if you two visited." Ivan turned to Alfred. "You can even bring your friend from England with you." Alfred raised an eyebrow. "Ah, I ran across his shop when I searching for new furniture. His shop was quite nice. He sure has changed... quite a lot, hasn't he?"
Alfred nodded, his face becoming slightly sterner.
"Very attractive, I was surprised he isn't married yet, but I cannot exactly talk myself, can I?"
Francis chuckled and pat the much larger Russian on the back. Alfred laughed once and then stiffened again. He turned around to face the captain, who was preoccupied staring at a painting.
"Captain, am I still needed here?"
Ludwig sighed once more, something he had done too many times that morning alone.
"There are a few new files on different cases in your office, please just go do your job."
"Thanks, Cap," he said already stepping out the door. A hand grabbing his shoulder forced him to turn around and face Ivan's round face.
"You will come visit with me right? With Francis and you friend?"
Alfred grinned uncomfortably.
"Sure, Ivan. Whatever you want."
"I am tellin' ya, old man, he is just as queer as when we last saw him." Alfred propped his feet onto his desk, deliberately soiling the case files he had only skimmed through.
"I am honestly surprised that he told you of us doing business," Arthur's voice said over the phone.
"Hmm, why's that?"
"Oh, no reason, just that you two never liked talking to each other really."
"Speaking of people not liking to talk to one another, did you know that Francis had practically forgotten all about you?"
Arthur huffed. "Probably for the best, to be honest. I just wish I could have forgotten him."
"You know, both Ivan and Francis said you were practically unrecognizable from when we were younger."
"Is that good or bad?"
"Good! You were such an awkward little bastard when you were younger and now you're..."
"Ah, thank you, love. Good to know I outgrew my bungling adolescence to achieve my aspiration of evolving into a man able to leave my best friend speechless."
There was silence on the phone for several seconds Alfred exhaled through his nose.
"You know, I like talking on the phone."
"Over working? Most people do, Alfred. Your captain will eat your head if you don't return though."
"That's fine," Alfred replied, reaching for the top file. He pried it out from under his slightly muddy shoes and shook the dirt off it. "Our conversations are much more interesting than-," he flipped it open and read the basic information hastily ,"- a robbery committed where the main suspects are three elderly women."
Arthur laughed softly over the phone, causing Alfred to smile. "Well unlike you, I prioritize my work over wasting time talking to a frivolous ditz."
"Is this another one of your flirtations, Arthur?" Alfred asked with a grin. Arthur chuckled several times causing Alfred's smile to grow exponentially.
"I'll be damned if it isn't, love."
For a few moments it was quiet. "I do have to go though."
"Wait, before you leave, Arthur, Ivan wants you to come with me to see his home and business in a few days. Do you want to come?"
"Sure, I needed to speak to him about a delivery anyway, but I really need to go-"
"I will tell you the detail later, what ti-"
"Fantastic, talk to you soon."
"Bye, Ar-" Alfred was interrupted by the sound of a click and the operator confirming the finished call. Alfred frowned for a moment but let the expression melt into one of youthful contentedness. After a minute of just thinking to himself happily he looked up to see an angry captain looming over his desk.
"Do your work, Jones," Ludwig said firmly. Alfred was in too much of a good mood to even care to object.
AN: Holy crap it's been a while since I updated, hopefully before the break ends I can update my other stuff too. I would explain why it's taking me so long, but Skyrim, GOTY Morrowind, and a tablet are pretty lame excuses.